Impatiens plant named ‘DANMU77’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Impatiens  cultivar named ‘DANMU77’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, upright and mounding plant habit. Plants produce unique light pink, fully double flowers held just above the foliage. Plants flower and branch freely. The new variety is an  Impatiens , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘DANMU77’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Impatiens cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newImpatiens varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The crossresulting in this new variety was made during November 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Impatiens walleriana ‘50V’ The pollen parent is the unpatentedproprietary seedling variety referred to as Impatiens walleriana‘1293HF’. The new variety was discovered in April 2009 by the inventorin a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a researchgreenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel in April 2009 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANMU77’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANMU77’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANMU77’ as a new and distinct Impatienscultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding growth habit    -   2. Unique light pink, fully double flowers held just above        foliage    -   3. Free branching    -   4. Free flowering    -   5. Bright green foliage

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Impatiens walleriana ‘50V’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ produceflowers that are fully double, whereas the seed parent produces single,5 petaled flowers. Additionally, the new variety has lighter coloredflowers and foliage than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Impatiens walleriana ‘CV444’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ produceflowers that are fully double, whereas the pollen parent producessingle, 5 petaled flowers. Additionally, plants of the new variety areless vigorous than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ are comparable to the varietyImpatiens ‘DANMU16’, unpatented. The two Impatiens varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘DANMU77’differs in having a lighter flower color, less vigorous growth habit,and different foliage coloring.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU77’ are comparable to the varietyImpatiens ‘DANMU12’, unpatented. The two Impatiens varieties are similarin most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘DANMU77’differs in having a lighter flower color, smaller flower size, anddifferent foliage coloring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANMU77’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of‘DANMU77’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANMU77’ plants grown in a greenhouse duringWinter in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature rangedfrom 23° C. to 28° C. during the day and from 18° C. to 22° C. duringthe night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana ‘DANMU77’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots:    -   -   Summer.—7 to 10 days at approximately 25° C.        -   Winter.—10 to 15 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, upright and mounded.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Height: 15 cm.-   Plant spread: 30 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Basal-branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 13 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 8 to 10.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Rounded.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Strong, very stable.-   Internode length: About 2.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 12 per branch.        -   Average length.—4 cm.        -   Average width.—2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Aspect.—About 45°.        -   Color.—Green. Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 A.            Young foliage under side: RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS            Green 138 B.        -   Venation.—Midrib with secondary veins on the lower surface            with no prominent veins on the upper surface. Type: Pinnate.            Venation color upper side: RHS Green 138A. Venation color            under side: RHS Green 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.0 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Color: Near RHS Green 138B. Texture: Smooth.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring until fall in outdoor conditions.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 6 weeks.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Fully double flowers.-   Rate of flower opening: 6 to 8 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 8 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Not persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—About 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Depth.—About 2 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—About 30 to 35 Petals.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricate.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth.        -   Color.—When opening upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 62C.            When opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red 56C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D. Fully opened, lower            surface: Near RHS White N 155B.-   Spurs:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Spur curvature 40° to 45° from peduncle.        -   Color.—Towards base: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152 D. Apex: Near            RHS Yellow-Green 152 B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length.—Two large sepals, length about 1 cm. Two small            sepals, length 0.3 cm.        -   Width.—Large sepals: About 0.5 cm. Small sepals: about 0.2            cm.        -   Shape.—Large sepals: Oblong. Small sepals: acicular Apex:            Acute. Base: large sepals: rounded. Small sepals: acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Small sepals near RHS Yellow-Green 147 C. Large            sepals near RHS Yellow-Green 145 B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—Stable, flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Sterile, no reproductive organs.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed, sterile flowers.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Impatiens have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates low temperatures to    10° C., maximum temperature tolerance unknown.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘DANMU77’ asherein illustrated and described.